THE OOLOG1ST. 



it is built upon [low bushes, or in thick 

 tufts of grass, in which latter case the 

 weeds aud grass are sometimes drawn 

 together above the nest almost conceal- 

 ing it. 



In this vicinity the eggs are as a rule 

 deposited during the third week of 

 May, although I rind records in my note 

 book of a set of three, partly incubated, 

 which I took from a bog near here, on 

 June 9 1890, and my friend J S. Square 

 has a set of four — incubation fresh, 

 which he took June loth of the same 

 year, — and within thirty yards of the 

 precise spot where I took mine. This 

 seems a strange occurrence, consider- 

 ing the solitary and unsociable habits of 

 the"bird. They measure 1.90 to 2.00 

 long by 1.50 broad, and are usually four 

 in number, but sets of 5 are very often, 

 and sets of 3 sometimes taken. The 

 sets of three, I might add, can usually 

 be traced to the hands of a collector, 

 who was unfortunate in not having dis- 

 covered the nest a day or two later, or 

 who had an accident before he got his 

 set safely lodged in his cabinet. 



A set also frequently shows great 

 differences in incubation, the last de- 

 posited blowing fresh, while the first 

 will give some trouble in saving it. 

 The female sets very close, and will 

 almost allow herself to be trod upon 

 before rising. I have one in my col- 

 lection which I pulled off the nest with 

 my hands, and carried home under my 

 arm It showed considerable pugnacity 

 while on the nest, ruffling its fea.hers 

 like a setting hen, and hissing after the 

 manner of a vulgar barnyard goose, 

 but unlike them she used her strong 

 hard beak so effectively, that I don't 

 care to capture any more Thunder 

 Pumps, that are not kors-de-combat. 

 F. Baker. 

 Stratford, Out. 



The Barred Owl. 



Who has not been startled on a sum- 

 mer night by the unexpected cry of a 



Barred Owl in a neighboring woods,, 

 amusing himself, apparently at your 

 expense, with his laughing, mocking, 

 inquisitive "who, ivhol who , who } who. 

 are youV 



At nightfall and early dawn these 

 owls can be heard, during the breeding 

 season, in nearly every deep woods in 

 the United States, east of the Rocky 

 mountains. From the amount of noise 

 which they make, one thinks them very 

 common and wonder why he so seldom 

 sees one of them. The reason is plain. 

 The bird is one of the shyest of the 

 large owls, and keeps himself well out 

 of the sight of man. At the approach, 

 of day he betakes himself to some hol- 

 low tree, there to remain in a half stu- 

 por until night's gray mantle effect- 

 ually conceals his noiseless flight. If 

 one climbs to his retreat, as I b. ave 

 frequently done, he will blink his big 

 dark eyes, and snap his bill in a way 

 which defies further intrusion. 



This bird is often mistaken by the. 

 casual observer for the Great Horned 

 Owl, Yet the distinction between the 

 two is very marked. The Barred Owl 

 is not quite so large as the Great Horn- 

 ed, has a much lighter plumage and a 

 round head in counter distinction to 

 the large tufts or horns of his relative. 

 But in flight the two are very similar 

 and can scarcely be distinguished un- 

 less very near the observer. 



It is during the breeding season that 

 we have the best opportunity for study- 

 ing the habits of the Barred Owl. The 

 nesting habits of the. bird are similar to 

 those of many of his relatives. For his 

 home he generally selects a cavity in 

 some secluded tree, although he is said 

 to occasionally appropriate a deserted 

 hawk's nest. I am inclined to think 

 that only the want of a suitable cavity 

 forces him to occupy an artificial well- 

 ing. I have found him nesting in 

 trees of every description, always in 

 cavities ranging from ten to sixty feet 

 from the ground. The only requisites 



